Hughes Insurance has announced a new initiative in partnership with The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust which will see it offer the car park of its Jubilee Road offices to facilitate a Park and Ride service for Ards Community Hospital staff.
A shuttle bus will transport staff from the car park which is conveniently located less than five minutes’ drive from the hospital. The service is now active and will run Mondays through to Fridays each week, with three collection services each morning between 7:50am and 8:45am, and three drop-off services each evening between 4:10pm and 5:05pm.
Commenting on the new initiative Richard Walker, Service Lead of Transport, Travel Plan and Car Parking at South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, said: “These temporary off site car parking spaces will really benefit the Staff at Ards Hospital by providing an alternative to parking locally or on site where spaces are very limited.”
Hughes Insurance has more capacity to support Ards Community Hospital’s staff by offering the car park since it made the move to remote working on a permanent basis earlier this year, with staff having the option to visit the office up to two days per week.
Iain Heap, IT, Process and Change Director at Hughes Insurance, said: “We have a substantial car park at our Newtownards Headquarters and as a result of there now being more free spaces, it is great to be in a position as a community-focused business to offer these up to the hard-working staff of the Ards Community Hospital. We hope that in doing so we can make their working weeks more enjoyable and their commutes more convenient. We’re proud that the decision to move to a permanent home working model is having a positive effect on our business, but now too the wider community here in Newtownards.”